HOSPITAL COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1921, Page 5

HOSPITAL COMMISSION.

PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES.

SITTING AT WELLINGTON.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 2. Before the Hospital Commission the Officer-in-Charge of Military Supplies purchase, Mr. P. N. Williams, expressed the opinion that a considerable saving could be effected by the adoption of a system of co-operative purchasing in respect of hospital boards and like institutions. He suggested a system of standardisation, the establishment of stores in the four chief centres, or that arrangements be made with Government departments to undertake the distribution of goods. The Defence Department having the necessary stores and transport facilities in the chief towns, should be in an excellent position to handle the goods, all purchases to be made through one central buying office by men with special knowledge. It was essential in these times, no matte/ where the hospital was situated, that provision be made for at least three months’ stock to be held in store.

Mr. jKillick, secretary of the department, said that the criticisms were directed against the suitability of the articles rather than the prices, and the remedy lay in closer standardisation and more accurate descriptions being furnished’to the purchasing officer. Buying through the High Commissioner’s office could be greatly improved. Major George Albert Gibbs, Officer.-in-Charge of Naval Stores, said his opinion was that when the markets became normal contracts for medical stores should be made jn England, and for periods of, say, two or three years. He thought orders should go through the High Commissioner’s office.

PAYMENTS IN RELIEF.

LARGE INCREASES SHOWN.

Wellington, Last Night. Before the Hospital Commission, Mr. Frederick Castle, chairman of the Wellington Board, asked to explain why Auckland spent only £€4,000 on 536 beds, while Wellington spent £6*2,000 on 392 beds, and also why the salaries and wages at Wellington totalled £23,000 against Auckland’s £lB,OOO, said it was unfair to pick out any one year as had been done. The salaries of nurses were higher in Wellington than in Auckland, which had 23 nurses and Wellington 35. Auckland’s outdoor staff was only 11, compared with Wellington’s 39. Wellington also maintained a laundry.

Mr. Shirtcliffe, a member of the commission, pointed out that the. Auckland population was 177,437 and the expeiyiiture on outdoor relief was £15,135, or Is B%d a head; the North Canterbury population was 142,021 and the outdoor relief £6058, or ll%d a head; the Otago population was 111.691 and the outdoor relief £7201 or Is 3Ad a head; and the Wellington population was 109,802' and the outdoor relief £22,309, or 4s Id a head.

Mr. Castle declined to accept the statement of Wellington figures as stated by Mr. Shirtcliffe. The estimates for indoor and outdoor relief was £15,000.

Mr. Killick, secretary of the department, said the previous year’s figures for outdoor relief jn Auckland were £10,060, and in Wellington £5OOO. Mr. Shirtcliffe’s quotation might include relief for epidemic widows. The chairman said that since 1914 the cost of outdoor relief in the Dominion had risen from £40,000 to £82,000, and indoor relief from £84,000 to £91,000.